SCAR Anxious for Appeal in Wrongful Conviction 4/30/2015

The Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism (SCAR) is anxious for the Appeal in the in the second degree murder conviction of Adam Riley Cyr to begin. Cyr’s sentencing hearing is being held in Queen’s Bench Court in Regina on May 1, 2015. “Having attended the preliminary hearing and almost all of the hearings in this court case I agree with defence lawyer Bob Hrycan that the jury found Cyr guilty “with no evidence to show (Cyr) either caused the death or possessed the motivation or capacity to do such a thing’” said Bob Hughes, SCAR spokesperson. SCAR has also raised an alarm bell regarding the extremely short deliberation by the jury in the trial. “Such a tragic and serious crime requires that a jury, following three weeks of testimony, thoroughly sift through the testimony as the Judge has directed,” said Hughes. “A short half day deliberation, especially in a case where there was no direct evidence and at least three suspects, then calls into question the make-up of the jury itself. When jury members fail to consider all of the evidence as a whole, they are left with making a decision based in great part on their opinion and judgment of the accused. Jury members, as with all of us, form our opinions dragging all of our prejudices and stereotypes with us,” stated Hughes. “Justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done.”

Everyone desires justice for Natalia Shingoose, however, court cases are not like football games. There are no winners in a case such as this. No amount of fist-pumping outside the courthouse can erase the fact that true justice remains elusive in this case. The granting of an Appeal was obvious.